Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-08-09
A DuNKARDS' LOVE FEAST.

Free Board for Man and Beast at
Primitive Religious Festival.
The Dunkards of this valley some ten years
ago worshiped in Father Zugs barn. The
charm of this novel simplicity has given way
to the dignity of spacious woIshiping places.
Then beautiful grove was the grand rally
ing point. Ii was motley, almost weird,
gathering. Under the heavy spring foliage
of those trees brotherly and siSterly greetings
were extended the livelong day. Somber,
quiet dresses-no tucks and ruffies-distin
guished the women folk There WAS sub
dued harmony in their plain frocks and stlf
hoods Pretty rosy faces looked out from be
meath white fringad caps and no gross out
line of soul was shaded by the broad brimmed
hat The men embrace each other and i'm
print the 'holy kiss, " and likewise the women.
Then YOU could have heard, Just as the sun
slanted his rays from the west, measured
drolery of song in the words OF the Pennsyl-
vania Dutch dialect come up from Elder
Zug's barn
The love feast was preparing. You look
within upon the extended threshing floor and
almost the living counterpart Of Leonardo da
Vinci's Last Supper" is reproduced here
First we witness the rite of feet washing
men with towels and basins bow before the
line of the brethren and women wait upon
the sisters Around a rude table sit the
| quietly demeaned participants. The bishop,
or housekeeper, has by his side the ministers
of the first or second degree; hats and coats
| of one measurement make sohd phalanx.
| 1t is the Dunkards' paschal-a song, prayer,
discourse, the kiss and then the mutton sop
and bread. 1t is really love feast, and that
holy kiss" however sacredly applied here,
| partakes of most ludicrous awkwardness ID
its execution. The tawny hands of those SONS
of toll are grasped in angled curves, the
| broad brinls of those hats meet and bend Ia
an upward pressure, and the religious kiss, in
| undated boldness sounds its praises upon the
air. The faint barn lights flicker and the
Lords Supper now begins. 1t is a supper
with them, SO it is night This is my body ,
this is my blood - are the words solemnly
spoken.
The mode of the love feast has changed but
little from that primitive style The Heidel
berg meeting house has, however, intensified
the Importance of such gathering Visitor;
from great distances in the west and othel
parts are here At meal hours the basement
with its stoves and baking houses, is busy
scene. A free table bids welcome to all visi
tors. A half loaf of bread is placed befor,
every six or ten guests; each one must cut hi
own slice to suit Cold meats and pre-emi
nently the "snitz pie, along with coffee DRUM
out of yellow bowls and filled from sprinklin:
cans, make up the bill of fare. The affectet
refinement of the worlds table etiquette j
disdainfully ignored here. Beds in the garre
are improvised for the distant visitors.
high board partition is run through the mid
die part, making separate apartments TO
male and female sleepers. The beds are simpl
straw strewn on the foor with bundles O
straw for pillows and such blankets an
S coverlets the near friends had provided
The addresses upon the occasion are as muc
the eliminating and exciting climaxes of tn
l meeting any oratorical effort before
/ great political convention. -Berks Count
, Cor Philadelphia Times